Dip and Dine at This Modern Japanese Restaurant
There’s a first time for everything—and no wrong way to do it when you dip and dine at Tabu Shabu, SoCal’s premier Japanese hot pot destination (with a Texas location coming soon!). Traditional Japanese cuisine combines seamlessly with a modern atmosphere alongside savory flavors, premium ingredients and homemade sauces. Though it’s a true DIY experience, your server’s pairing recommendations and cooking expertise is available at every turn. Ingredients, cookware and a stovetop are provided, while the rhythm, arrangement and creativity is all up to you. Hot Pot Tabu Shabu
From the moment you walk through the doors, you immediately become blissfully aware that your dining experience won’t be your standard eat-and-run. With social bar seating, a buzzing atmosphere and a knowledgeable wait staff encouraging you to dig in and play with your food, it’s a place to think outside of the box—or bowl, rather. With that said, here’s your step-by-step guide on “hot to hot pot” at Tabu Shabu.
Step 1
You’ll set the stovetop with several selections: a variety of broth, veggies, noodles, rice and proteins. Begin with the broth—a savory, spicy or sweet base presented in a large hot pot. Your server will crank up the stove to the ideal temperature, get the broth bubbling and you’ll add your selection of fresh vegetables—a mix of shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, tofu and baby bok choy to name a few.
Step 2
Plated with the vegetables are your noodles of choice (udon, shirataki or kale ramen noodles). After the veggies have been cooked to your liking, you’re ready to add in your noodles and meats. Whether you’ve chosen a thin-sliced prime ribeye cut or a sashimi-grade salmon, it will all perfectly cook up in about two minutes’ time—along with your noodles.
Step 3
Toss ‘em in all at once or meticulously one-by-one. Then, wait a few minutes until cooked through and violà! You’ve just conquered your very first Japanese hot pot experience. Now, it’s time to eat.
Step 4
@localemag Have you tried #tabushabu ?? We visited tge location in #oldtownorange #orangeca #orangecounty #oc #ocfoodies #ocdateideas #ocdatenight #localemagazine 🎥: @BeastlyAppetite ♬ Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris
The way you plate it is up to you: keep everything sectioned and separate, mix it all up on your plate or toss everything back into the hot pot for a soup-style dish. Creativity is key in this DIY experience, so don’t be afraid to mix things up and think outside the bowl!
Hot Pot Tabu Shabu
Meet the Owner
After being introduced to shabu shabu with his family when he was 5 years old, owner Jeff Chon grew up feeling that mainstream dining was missing this traditional Japanese experience. “I felt it was so underappreciated for its delicious simplicity yet was not simple enough for those who hadn’t been introduced to it.” While successfully operating other restaurants at the time, Chon decided to open up the first Tabu Shabu in Costa Mesa with the help of childhood friends. It was made to appeal to the masses: those who have their hot pot down to a science and those who have never even heard of shabu shabu in all its glory. At Tabu Shabu, all can feel at home to cook, create and consume, whether it’s trial number one or 100.
Tabu Shabu
Locations: San Diego, Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Orange, Thousand Oaks, San Jose, Texas (coming soon!)
@tabushabu
Jaclyn is a sunshine chasing San Diego native with an extensive writing background. When she isn’t word-smithing, you can find her playing beach volleyball, skating the boardwalk, or on a rooftop enjoying a drink in the sunshine with her pals.
Josie Gonzales studied Art History and Photography at University of San Diego. She works as a freelance photographer covering fashion shows, theatre, weddings and other events.
